I wasn't trying to start a tracklist debate really... I was just trying to say that there are a lot of really strong elements on S/T, and from those sessions, that suggest that PJ nearly pulled off the near impossible... that is, make a classic album (10 out of 10) that rivals the greatness of their first 3 albums... (which is what we've all been clamoring for, regardless of whether or not you're willing to admit that yourself)... BUT they just seem to miss a few important pieces of the puzzle and instead it's just a really good album (8 out of 10) ...and not the career-defining gem that it was originally hyped up to be.

I wasn't trying to start a tracklist debate really... I was just trying to say that there are a lot of really strong elements on S/T, and from those sessions, that suggest that PJ nearly pulled off the near impossible... that is, make a classic album (10 out of 10) that rivals the greatness of their first 3 albums... (which is what we've all been clamoring for, regardless of whether or not you're willing to admit that yourself)... BUT they just seem to miss a few important pieces of the puzzle and instead it's just a really good album (8 out of 10) ...and not the career-defining gem that it was originally hyped up to be.

Change that to first 5 and you'll start to get me on this. My personal taste tells me that this album is the closest for me to hold up to those first 5. I'd be say first 6 if Mirrorball was considered a Pearl Jam album featuring Neil Young instead of a Neil Young album featuring Pearl Jam - I've been listening and rediscovering that album again for probably the 5th cycle of appreciation recently.

outside of production, i never really got the hate for this album. i think wws, marker and severed hand can hold up to just about anything they've done. there's some real good songs on here.

The production kills most of the times I get the urge to listen to the album. There is good music on there, but since it doesn't even have the relative change of direction Backspacer did, it's just an album full of nice songs that constantly lose out to the rest of their work.